FORMER Tory whip Chris Pincher has confirmed he will resign as an MP after losing his appeal against a suspension for drunkenly groping two men.
It has paved the way for yet another by-election for Rishi Sunak, who is already facing one in Med Bedfordshire following the resignation of Nadine Dorries.
Pincher said he did not want to put any “further uncertainty” on his constituents in Tamworth, in the West Midlands, and has “made arrangements to resign and leave the Commons”.
He said: “I have said already that I will not stand at the next General Election.
“However, following the Independent Expert Panel’s decision I wanted to talk to my office team and family.
“I do not want my constituents to be put to further uncertainty, and so in consequence I have made arrangements to resign and leave the Commons.
“Tamworth is a wonderful place and it has been an honour to represent its people. I shall make no further comment at this time.”
The seat has been held by the Tories since 2010, having been held by Labour since 1997 before then.
However before Labour’s win in 1997, the seat had been held by the Conservatives since 1885.
Pincher won the seat in the 2019 General Election with a 66.3% share of the vote.
